TOPICS OF THE SHOW GROUND.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 50, 22 November 1907, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE SHOW GROUND.

WHAT THE FARMERS ARE SAYING. BE-RIBBONED CATTLE. The Association's innovation of first-prize ribbons for cattlo and horses in placo of tickets was much appreciated by exhibitors, and helped greatly towards the spectacle of the grand parade of stock. EXIT THE HAND-SHEARER. A PICTURESQUE SPECLMEN. Judged by tho remarks of a Wairarapa farmer at to-day's show, another nail has been driven in tho coffin of tho hand-shearer. With the advent of tho sheep-shearing machine, the hand-shearer has been disappearing from the big sheep stations, but ho has held his own in the smaller sheds where the cost of installation is the groat obstacle. This advantage is about to be dono away with by the scheme of travelling shearing machines. Tho plant usually comprises two machines, an / oil-engine, and an oxpert, who ■manages everything, including tho shearing itself. All tho paraphernalia can be placed in a cart, and the pilgrim can mako his calls in the same manner as tho scissors-to-grind man in tho big towns. With the passing away of tho hand-shearer, there will disappear one of the most picturesquo specimens of country life. Hand-shearing involved a great strain upon tho wrist, owing to tho opening and closing of the shears. Thus it was that the "ringer," or he who stood in the front rank of the profession, was a mail with big hands and limbs. The "ringers" wero, in fact, giants, and industrial rangatiras, and spoko and acted accordingly. Language was given them to express their thoughts, and they did so at times in slabs of unprintable pictnrcsqueness which wero tho wonder of their less verbose companions. The hand-shearer, however, had a heart as big as his frame, and his loss is to be deplored. His successor, the machinoshoarer, is a mechanic, wiry, and built altogether on smaller lines. Quickness, and a proper knowledge of keeping his comb and cutters in good order are his chief qualities. The disappearance of tho hand-shearer, however, manes a new phase in tho shearingshed life of tho Dominion.

WOOL BREEDING. The success of Mr. W. B. Allen, of Taratahi. as a wool grower, is interesting owing to the fact that Mr. Allen has long made a study of iiis subject. His wool uas been awarded tho principal prizes at shows for many years, and Professor Lowrie, Principal of tho Lincoln Agricultural College, is even now writing to him for some of his samples. Mr. Allen makes a specialty of breeding for Sain in the length of staple, weight,-and fineness combined. He believes, he says, in •" balb ■fillers'" with quality. The wool shown to-day which earned so much' approval from Mr. Thomas, tho-well-known London judge, was the llomney Marsh.

DEMONSTRATIONS WITH ROOT CROPS. A number of Wairarapa farmers at to-day's show express the opinion that it would be a good idea if practical illustrations of root crops could be given on the show'■ grounds. Undoubtedly there would be a great deal of trouble to arrange for a show of this kind, but it would prove of incalculable benefit to those interested, in the industry. The matter will probably bo further considered by tho Association at its annual meeting. CHEESE SLIGHTED. BETTER TIMES COMING. A matter for consideration by Wairarapa dairy farmers is tho small amount of prize money awarded for cheese. In a measure the Wairarapa is a great cheese centre, and it is contended that cheese should form a feature of the show. A suggestion has been made that the Association and the dairy companies should co-operate and offer a substantial prize programme for next year's show. If there wore distinctive prizes, worth from £25 to £30, all tho Wairarapa factory managers would take the field, and against those would bo the best makers from Taranaki and other portions of the Dominiou. It may bo said that makers have not the_ time in the spring that they have in> tho winter, but, from a Wairarapa point of view, the matter should he taken up by all interested, so that one of: the chief industrial centres of the district may receivo proper recognition. , THE MACHINERY TROUBLE. A BOYCOTT THREATENED. The withdrawal of the'big machinery exhibits from the agricultural shows of the Dominion is not being taken by tho faiinus without resentment. A prominent member of a farmoi's' organisation told a Dominion representative that be had decided on a boycott of those firms which do not exhibit, and thao he had hopes that other farmers would follow suit. He had already mado a beginning. H« had purchased at tho last Manawatu Show from the exhibitors there machinery costm;* a considerable sum. He also considered that if other farmers adopted the same plan they would be able to do a |ood turn to those firms which considered it worth while to patronise tho farmers' shows. In a conversation on this subject an implement maker said that though ho would, of course, welcome the transference of the Dominion's trade from tho big firms to himself, he doubted if the farmers would f!o much in the way of a boycott. Tho farmers' personal interests were stronger than their dovotion to the shows, and they would still, no doubt, buy in tho cheapest market. As to the ability of the exhibiting firms to fill all the wants of th.' farmers, the same maker said that, with tho exception of reapers and binders, he believed most of the small local firms would arrange to mako anything required if the demand arose. A boycott of tho kind referred to could not very well be prevented by the harvester trust and big local makors; nor could they very well prevent the smaller firms from taking full advantage of the situation, except by a war of prices.